Acting hinge



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GEORGE DUMBOLTON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND', ASSIGNOR TO'HIMSEL AND C. H. SLICER, OF SAMEPLAOE.

Letters Patent No. 76,422, dated flpm'l 7, 1868.

IMPROVED DOUBLE-ACTING HINGE.

To ALLwHoM Ir MAY coNoERN:

Be it known that I, GnoncnDuMnoLToN, of the city and county of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hinges for Doors, `Windows, Ste., which I denominate as a Double-Action Hinge; and do hereby declare'that the following is a-full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this application.

The object ofmy improvement is yto furnish a cheap, simple, and easily-attached, removed, or repaired spring to a hinge for doors of` public buildings, stores, and oices, 8vo., that will open either way,and admit o ingress andegress by pushing the door in either direction. It ,has all the simplicity and durability of the ordi-v narybutt-hingaiis readily adapted to the plain door'and ja rod may be easily applied in keeping the door closed.

My invention is applicable to the ordinary square-edged door, is simple in its construction, and, at little cost, allows of the opening of the door in either direction. It consists in part of a hinge resembling, in its joints and leaves; the common butt-hinge, but; instead of two, it has a'third leaf interposed between theV others. This centreleaf is divided at its half length. Saidhalf length interlocks or couples with thescrew or wholclength plates, upon opposite sides ofsaid plates, in such VVa manner that while the upper half leaf is hinged to the left-hand screw-plate at its upper and .right-hand side, the lower half leaf isA hinged t'o the left side of the right-hand screw-plate 4at its-lower end. In this way, either the upper or lower part ofthe centre leaf alter nately formsV a strap or c onnection of the plates, and moves with the door in either direction, thus carrying 4or throwing the centre ofxmotion or pivots of the hinge to the front or back of the door.

` It is to be noticed that the only connection or lcoupling of the screw-plates is through the strap-plates ci* centre leaves, and it i's also to be observed that while the right screw-plate couples with one strap, the left'one Yalso couples with the other plate, thus giving full strength and bearing of the whole length of the hinge.

In the drawings, B represents what I designate the right-hand screw-plate, and B the left-hand one. The' joints of the hinges or knuckles are simple in their character. C is the upper strapor part of the third leaf, and C the lower stra-p. l These straps are double knuckled, that is, they interlock with both screweplates, allownr ing one leai` to fold on one side, and the other-on the opposite side of the centre leafvor strap.

In determining the sizfe ofthe hinge for a. door, the'length of the strap between the knuckles should correspend with the thickness of the door. Should it be desirable to only allow of the opening of the door in one direction, it is only necessary to pass a. screw through a'hole t'o be made in the strap C, and thus fasten it to the door or jamb.

In double-acting hinges as heretofore constructed', the's are so united with the hinge itself` as to make it expensive,

to it cannot be had,or, indeed, any access, without taking o these objections by arranging and combining with the centre or swinging leaf of a double-actionhinge, when upon'the door, two torsion-springs in a way entirely diierent from what has been heretofore done, viz', the end of one of ,these springs is fastened to the door-frame or jamb, and the opposite end is attached to the swinging vleaf or strap of the. hinge 'by means of its pivot or knuckle, as shown in Figure G. By this connection a springi pivot or knuckle is formedfor closing the door in one direction. The other spring is used on the reverse side of the door,and has one of its ends attached to and operates the opposite pivot or knuckle of the same hinge i in the same manner as in the iirst instance, but this spring has its other end .fastened directly to the door, as shown in red lines, iig. 6, and closes the door in theopposite direction.

These'two-springs, arranged in the manner described, centre or close the door to its proper place. These springs can be removed, repaired, or replaced without disturbingor' removing the hinge or door. Another advantage in this method of applying torsion-springs to the double-acting hinge is that the hinge can readily be relieved of the action of the springs when the door is required'to be kept open, and thereby get rid of unnecessary strain upon the hinge when the door is not in use.

mb in use, and to whichthe common torsion springprings for returning the door to its shut position heavy, and very diiiicult to repairLas easy access E thehinge from the jamb and door. I remedy vWhat: I claim as my invention, anddesire to secure/bjr Letters Patent, is The applying 4of two trsion-springs to' theswingng lean/s or straps of a. double-action hinge, ksmhfsmnzully as and for the purpose desribed. v v I GrEO.l DUMBOLTON.

AWitnesses JOHN F. CLARK, W. H. HAYWARD. 

